“In many cases, the falls or slower increases represent a delayed reaction to the global financial and economic crisis that broke in 2008,” it said in a statement, adding that there were regional differences.

Spending in Europe shrank 2.8 percent to $382 billion as governments started to rein in soaring budget deficits.

The biggest cuts were in small economies in central and eastern Europe, and in crisis-struck southern European countries such as Greece.

“Further cuts are expected in most of Europe in 2011 and subsequent years, although these are likely to remain relatively modest in the major spending countries,” SIPRI, which conducts independent research on international security, armaments and disarmament, said in a statement.